I know what it’s like to hear about all the requirements for PA school and feel completely overwhelmed and anxious. But, I want to remind you that worrying about it and feeling stressed is SO not helpful! Your energy is so much better spent thinking about how you want to get it all done and making a plan of action. If your goal is to become a PA, you will get there eventually. You can do it!
First of all, you should make a plan. I know in my experience, planning things out and getting it out of my head and on paper makes me feel much more organized and prepared. However, you have to remember that things don’t always go to plan! If something doesn’t work out, you can always adjust and find another way to accomplish what you need to. You can start by making a tentative timeline of when you plan to graduate and when you would like to apply and eventually start PA school. Then, you can think about when you can get a certification, find a job, and fit in your patient care hours within that timeline. Working during the summer and finding somewhere that will allow you to work PRN during school is a good way to get hours. Then it’s time to consider when you could take the GRE/PACAT and which test(s) you will take. This may depend on what schools you are interested in applying to. After that you can start looking into specific schools and make sure you are taking the classes you need.
There is a lot of research that goes into preparing for PA school. First, you’ll need to search for certification programs that you are able to fit into your schedule. You’ll also need to search for jobs after you get a certification. Look for opportunities to get involved in some clubs or activities and ways to volunteer in the community. It is a good idea to research PA schools you think you may be interested in, and make a spreadsheet or document of their requirements, cost, start date, etc. Don’t just look at one or two schools, you should look at a bunch of them to see how they are different from each other and think about what kind of program would be the best for you. Talk to any PAs you may know about their experiences, and learn as much as you can. Don’t be afraid to reach out, most PAs will be happy to help you and answer your questions.
Another great way to prepare to apply to PA school is to make a spreadsheet to keep track of all your hours. This can include patient care experience, healthcare experience, volunteering, and shadowing. You can also write down all the clubs you have been a part of and experiences you have had so far that you want to put on your application. After each time you work, volunteer, etc, you can add to the spreadsheet how many hours you were there and what you did during that time. This is a great way to keep track along the way so you don’t feel overwhelmed when you go to apply and don’t know how to calculate your hours.
Yes, there is a lot to do to prepare for PA school, but you are totally capable of doing it! If you have decided you want to be a PA late in your undergraduate career and you can’t get it all done before you graduate, you can still be a PA. It may not end up being the exact timeline you hoped for, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a gap year and having more time to prepare. Taking more time to work and getting more experience in healthcare can only help you for PA school. It is no big deal to take a little bit longer to get to your goal!
The moral of the story is to not freak out. All you can do is work hard in school and try to prepare for your future in the best way you can. It is not the end of the world if you can’t get it all done by senior year, you can just take some more time and apply when you are ready! When you feel overwhelmed with everything, just remember that all of your hard work will be worth it in the end. And you have all of us in Paws for PA to support you along the way!